Presser device for sewing machines



April22,1947. CLAYTON 2,419,482

PRESSER DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Oct. 20; 1945 2 Sheets$heet 1Wi/rwm 3, M .i j W u ndrew 5. czw m April 22,- 1947. A. B. CLAYTON 9,

PRESSER DEVIIGEYFOR SEWiNGMACHINES Filed Ot. 20,- 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2@W/mebw Patented Apr. 22, 1947 2,419,482 PRESSER DEVICE FOR SEWINGMACHINES Andrew E. Clayton,

Elizabeth, N. 1., assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company,Elizabeth, N. J., a. corporation of New Jersey Application October 20,1945, Serial No. 623,585

14 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines of the type in which anendwise movable presser-bar is inclined relative to the work-supportingsurface of the machine and more particularly to an improved presserdevice for sewing machines of that type.

The invention has as an object to provide a presser device for sewingmachines in which the presser-foot proper may, under the influence ofthe feed-dog or the usual presser lifter, be caused to move in a pathother than the path of movement of the presser-bar.

Stated more specifically, the invention has as an object to provide, ina sewing machine having a horizontally disposed work-support and anupwardly and rearwardly inclined presser-bar, a presser-deviceoperatively connected to the lower end of the presser-bar and adapted tobe moved substantially perpendicularly to the upper surface of thework-support during the rise and fall of the feed-dog, therebynullifying any tendency of the presser-foot to shift the work in adirection opposite to the normal directionof feed of the Work.

Another object of the'invention is to provide an improved presser devicein which the path of movement of the presser-foot may be varied.

Still another object of the invention is to pro-. vide, in a sewingmachine, an improved supporting means for a presser device whereby thepresser device may be adjusted bodily in the line of scam formation.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear,the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements ofparts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawingsof a preferred embodiment of the invention, from whichthe severalfeatures of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will bereadily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an end view of a sewing machine embodying the presentinvention, with the usual face-plate:removed from the machine- Fig. 2 isa rear side elevation, on a reduced scale, of a portion of the machine,showing more particularly the manually actuated presser-foot liftingmeans.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the improved presser-device in aposition of adjustment in which the presser-foot is given one path ofmovement.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the presser-device adjusted toa position which effects a different path of movement of thepresser-foot.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-.-5

of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a view looking in the direction indicated by thearrow A in Fig. 3, with the needlebar and needle omitted and with thethroat-plate and feed-dog indicated in section.

Fig. 7 is a View illustrating more clearly the path of movement of thepresser-foot when the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the invention is disclosedas embodied in a sewing machine having a frame including aworksupporting plate 2, a standard 3 and a bracketarm a terminating in abracket-arm head 4-. Mounted for endwise reciprocation in bushings d inthe head 4 is a needle-bar 5 carrying an eye-pointed needle 6 whichcooperates with a loop-taker in the formation of stitches. The work isadvanced through the machine by a conventional four-motioned feedingmechanism, including a feed-bar 8 carrying a serrated feeddog 9operating through slots in a throat-plate is carried by the plate 2 andconstituting a part of the work-support. Means, designated generally asf, is provided for giving to the feed-bar and the feed-dog carriedthereby, their feed and return movements in synchronism with the up anddown movements thereof, which are effected by mechanism designatedgenerally as 9.

Also mounted in the head 4 and secured therein by a screw H, is abushing l2 the lower portion of which projects below the lower end ofthe head. A presser-bar I3 is slidingly mounted in the bushing l2 and isnormally held depressed by a coil spring |4 seated at one end against ashoulder l5 provided by the presser-bar and at its other end against aspring-adjusting element I6 threaded into the upper portion of thebracketarm head. Secured to the presser-bar I3, within the head 4*, is acollar having a rearwardly extending arm I8 fitted in a slot l9 in thehead. The under surface of the arm I8 is adapted to be engaged by theinwardly extending lower limb of an L-shaped lifter element 2.0pivotally connected, at its upper end, to one arm 2| of apresser-lifting lever 2| fulcrumed on a shoulder screw 22 threaded intothe rear wall of the bracket-arm 4 (Fig. 2). A spring 23, coiled aboutthe hub of the lever 2| and having one arm 23 secured in the bracket-armand the other arm 23 engaging the lever arm 2 l normally serves to biasthe lever 2| to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The otherarm 2| of the lever 2| is connected by a chain 24, or othersuitableelement,

to a conventional treadle mechanism, not shown. Thus manipulation of thetreadle will, through the elements 24, 2|, 20, I8 and [1, effect upwardmovement of the presser-bar I3 in opposition to the spring M.

As shown in Fig. 1, the presser-bar is inclined relative to the uppersurface of the work-supportin plate 2. Therefore, when the machine isplaced upon a supporting table with the worksupport in a horizontalplane, the presser-bar,

will be upwardly inclined rearwardly as shown in Fig. 1. For certainpurposes it may be desirable to suport the machine on an inclined tablewith the work supporting surface of the machine upwardly inclinedrearwardly and with the presser-bar arranged vertically. In eithersetting of the machine the presser-bar will be inclined relative to thework-supporting surface of the machine.

Cooperating with the feed-dog 9 and throatplate It), in the feeding andholding of the work, is a presser-foot 25 supported indirectly from thepresser-bar IS. The sole portion of the presser-foot normally bears uponthe upper surface of the work and is adapted to be lifted, in oppositionto the spring M, by the upward movement of the feed-dog and to bedepressed by the spring when the feed-dog is lowered. For certainpurposes, and under certain working conditions, it is. desirable thatthe movement of the presserfoot be substantially perpendicular to theupper surface of the work-support and not parallel to the axis of thepresserbar. It may also be desirable to vary the path of movement of thepresser-foot.

This invention has, therefore, provided an improved supporting means forthe presser-foot, whereby the path of movement of the presserfoot may beindependent of and diiferent from the path of movement of thepresser-bar. This means comprises an L-shaped bracket 26 having a splitportion 27 surrounding the presser-bar bushing I2 and adjustably securedthereto by a clamp screw 28. The lower end of the presserb'ar isbifurcated, as shown at 29, and has fitted therein a plate-like shankmember 36, to the lower end of which the presser-foot 25 is pivotjallymounted, as by a pin 3|. Intermediate the furcations of the presser-bar,the shank 3% is formed with an aperture 32 in which is fitted a rollerstud 33 journaled upon a screw 35 carried by the presser-bar. By reasonof this construction, the shank 30 moves up and down with the.presser-bar but is free to move edgewise relative thereto.

. The bracket 26 has a depending portion 26 located rearwardly of thepresser-bar, and to which are pivotally connected, by screws 35, therear ends of a pair of parallel links 36. The forward ends of the links36 are pivotally connected, by screws 31, to the rear portion of theshank member 39.

L To facilitate manufacture and to afford bodily adjustment of the shank30 and the presserfoot 25 carried thereby, in the line of seamformation, the bracket 26 is preferably made in two parts and means isprovided for adjusting one part on the other. As illustrated in thedrawing, the portion 2! of the bracket 2'3 has formed integrally with ita rearwardly projecting arm 2'5 formed, in its side face, with a groove21". The depending limb 26 of the bracket is provided, at its upper end,with an off-set arm 26' having a lateral rib 26, adjustably fitted intothe groove 2l -inthe arm 21 and alongitudinal slot 26 4 extendinglengthwise of the arm. A clamp screw ill, having its shank passedthrough the slot 25 and threaded into the arm 21 holds the arm 26* invarious positions of adjustment on the arm 21 By reason of thisconstruction, the limb 26 of the bracket 2'5, the links 36, the shankmember 30 and the presser-foot 25 are all adapted to be shifted bodilyin the line of seam formation. This adjustment may be used to correctfor any slight variations or inaccuracies in the parts, to vary theposition of the toe of the presser-foot relative to certain atachmentswith which sewing machines are commonly fitted, or for any otherpurpose.

In Figs. 1 and 3, the bracket 26 is shown as adjusted upwardly on thebushing 12 to a position in which the bracket closely underlies thebracket-arm head 4 In this position of adjustment of the bracket, the upand down movements given to the presser-foot and the shank 3!], with therise and fall of the feed-dog 9, causes the links 33 to be swung aboutthe pivot screws 35 to opposite sides of planes 10 parallel to the uppersurface of the work-support. Thus the shank 39 and the presser-footcarried thereby are moved substantially perpendicular to theworksupporting surf-ace, thereby avoiding any tendency for thepresser-foot to shift the work toward the operator in the downwardmovement of the foot.

In Fig. 7 the entire path of movement of the presser-foot, under theinfluence of both the feed-dog and the manually actuated presser-fo-otlifter, is indicated by the dot-dash line 1. That portion thereof whichis efiected by the rise and fall of the feed-dog is designated as 1/,which, as above pointed out, is substantially perpendicular to thework-supporting surface of the machine.

When the presser-bar is lifted by the manually actuated liftingmechanism hereinbefore described, the presser-foot is lifted to itsuppermost position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.

3 and in dot-dash lines in Fig. 7.

Under certain conditions, it may be desirable to have the presser-footmove in a path approximating the path of movement of the presser-bar.The above described construction is also adapted to meet this condition.As shown in Fig. 4, the bracket 26 may be adjusted downwardly on thebushing l2 and secured thereto at a substantial distance from the lowerend of the bracket-arm head. With the bracket so adjusted, the rearpivots 35 of the links 36 are located substantially below the forwardpivots 31 and therefore the path of movement of the presser-foot will beas indicated by the heavy dotted line 2 in Fig. 4.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention what I claim hereinis:

1. In a sewing machine having a frame, a worksupport, and an endwisemovable presser-bar inclined relative to the work-support; a bracketsupported by said frame and having a portion located at one side of theaxis of the presser-bar; a pair of links'pivotally mounted at one end onsaid portion of the bracketya shank member pivotally attached to theother ends of said links and having an operative connection with saidpresser-bar; and a presser-foot carried by said shank member.

2. In a sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm head, abushing in said head, a work-support, and an endwise movable presserbarmountedin said bushing and inclined relative to the work-support; abracket, supported-by said bushing and having a portion located atoneside ofthe axis of the presser-bar; a pair of links pivotally mounted atone end on said portion of the bracket; a shank member pivotallyattached to the other ends of said links and having a sliding pivotalconnection with said presser-bar; and a presser-foot secured to saidshank member.

3. In a sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm head, abushing secured in said .head and having a portion projectingtherebeneath, a work-support, and an endwise movable presser-bar mountedin said bushing inclined relative to the work-support; a bracket securedupon the projecting portion of said bushing and having a portion locatedrearwardly of the presser-bar; a 'pair of parallel links pivotally'mounted at one end on said portion of the bracket; a shank memberpivotally attached to the other ends of said links and having a slidingpivotal connection with said presser-bar; and a presser-foot secured tosaid shank member.

4. A sewingmachine combining a frame including a bracket-arm head; abushing secured in said head and having a portion projecting'therebeneath; a work-support; an endwise movable presser-bar mounted insaid bushing and inclined relative to the work-support, said presser-barhaving a bifurcated lower end projecting below said bushing; a bracketsecured upon the projecting portion of said bushing and having a portionlocated rearwardly of the presser-bar; a pair of links pivotally mountedat one end on said portion of the bracket; a plate-like shank mem-' berpivotally attached to the other ends of said links and having a portionextending between the furcations of the presser-bar and provided with aslot; a stud carriedby said furcations and passing through said slot;and a presser-foot secured to said shank member.

5. In a sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm head, abushing secured in said head and having a portion projectingtherebeneath, a work-support, and an endwise movable presser-bar mountedin said bushing and inclined relative to the work-support; an invertedL- shaped bracket having its upper limb adjustably mounted on theprojecting portion of said bushing for vertical adjustment and havingits other limb depending from said upper limb and located rearwardly ofthe presser-bar; a pair of 7 parallel links pivotally mounted on thedepending limb of the bracket; a shank member pivotally attached to theother ends of said links and having a stud and slot connection with saidpresser-bar; and a presser-foot pivotally secured to said shank member.

6. A presser device for a sewing machine having an endwise movablepresser-bar; comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to a fixedportion of the machine, a pair of links pivotally connected at one endto said bracket, a shank member pivotally attached to the other ends ofsaid links, means for connecting said shank member to the presser-bar,and a presser-foot carried by said shank member.

7. A presser device for a sewing machine having a bracket-arm head, abushing in said head, and an endwise movable presser-bar mounted in saidbushing; comprising an inverted L-shaped bracket adapted to be securedto said bushing, a pair of substantially horizontal parallel linkspivotally connected at their rear ends to said bracket, a shank memberpivotally attached to the forward ends of said links, means forconnecting said shank member to the presser-bar for verticalmovementtherewith, and apresser foot secured to said shank member. 1

8. Apresser device for a sewing machine having abracket-arm head, abushing in said head, and'an endwise movable presser-barmounted in saidbushing; comprising an inverted L-shaped bracket the upper limb of whichis formed as a collar adapted to be secured upon said bushing, a pair oflinks pivotally connected at one end to the lower limb of said bracket,a plate-like shank member pivotally attached to the other ends of saidlinks, means for connecting said shank member to the presser-bar, and apresser-foot pivotally secured to said shank member.

9. In a sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm head, awork-support, a work-feeding mechanism including afour-motioned'feed-dog operating through said worksupport, and anendwise movable presser-carrying bar mounted in said bracket-arm headand inclinedrelative to the work-support; a presserdevice including ashank member and a presserfoot carried thereby and normally bearing uponthe upper surface of the work to hold the work on the work-support;means connecting said shank member to said presser-carrying bar topermit movement of the shank member relative to the bar; and meansengaging said shank member and rendered effective by the rising andfalling movements of the feed-dog to cause the presser-foot to movesubstantially perpendicular to the work-support.

10. In a sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm head, awork-support, a work feeding mechanism including a four-motionedfeed-dog operating through said worksupport, and an endwise movablepresser-carrying bar mounted in said bracket arm head and inclinedrelative to the work-support; a presserdevice including a shank memberand a presserfoot carried thereby and normally bearing upon the uppersurface of the work to hold the work on the work-support; meansconnecting said shank member to said presser-carrying bar to permitmovement of the shank member relative to the bar; and means connectedwith said shank member for causing bodily movement thereof relative tothe pressure-carrying bar when the presser-foot is moved by thefeed-dog,

11. In a sewing machine having a frame, in combination, stitch-formingmechanism; workfeeding mechanism; a spring-depressed presserbar mountedin said frame for endwise movement; a two-part bracket supported by saidframe and having one party thereof adjustably mounted on the other part;a presser-device, including a shank member attached to the adjustablepart of the bracket and operatively connected with the presser-bar to bemoved thereby and a presser-foot carried by said shank member; and meansto adjust the adjustable part of the bracket and said presser-devicebodily in the line of seam formation and to secure them in theiradjusted position.

12. In a sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm head, incombination, a stitch-forming mechanism; work-feeding mechanism; abushing mounted in said head and having a portion thereof extendingtherebeneath; a spring depressed presser-bar mounted in said bushing forendwise movement; a bracket having a first arm secured to the projectingportion of said bushing and a second arm adjustably mounted on the firstarm and extending downwardly therefrom; a pair of links pivotallymounted at one end on said second arm; 'a shank member pivotallyattached to the other ends of said links and having a sliding connectionwith the presser-bar; a. presser-foot carried by said shank member; andmeans to adjust said second arm, links, shank-member and presser-afootbodily relative to said first arm in the line of seam formation and tosecure them in their adjusted position.

13. In a sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm head, incombination, stitch-forming mechanism; work-feeding mechanism; aspring-depressed presser-bar mounted in said bracket-arm head forendwise movement; an inverted L-shaped bracket comprising a first armconnected with said head and projecting rearwardly from said presser-barin a direction substantially parallel to the line of seam formation, asecond arm depending from said first arm and adjustably secured theretofor bodily adjustment lengthwise of the first arm and means to securesaid arms together, in adjustedpositions; a shank member attachedltosaid second arm and adjustable bodily therewith and havi g an operativeconnection with the presser-bar; anda ,presser-foot carried by saidshank member. s

14. A presser device for a ewing machine having an endwise movablepresser-bar; comprising an inverted L-shaped bracket including ,twoarms, one of which is adapted to be secured to a fixed portion of themachine and to project rearwardly from aid presser-bar in a directionsubstantially parallel to the line of seam formation of the sewingmachine, and a second depending arm mounted on'the first arm'foradjustment lengthwise of the first arm; a pair of links pivotallyconnected at one end to said second arm; a shank member pivotally,attached to the other ends of said link 'and having means to:connect itwith the presser-bar; and a presser-foot, car- 20 ried by said shankmember.

' ANDREW. B. CLAYTON.

